Distant Shores TVvideo

Anchoring in Deep Water with Short Scope

August 13, 2016 · 6 min · 222K views · British Virgin Islands

What this video covers

Paul Shard and Sheryl Shard test the holding power of a 73-pound Rocna anchor in deep water using short scope.4:15 In 50 feet of water, the crew deploys 165 feet of chain, creating a 3:1 scope.1:04 Using the engine in full astern at 2500 RPM, they simulate 30-knot wind conditions.1:19 Underwater observation confirms that the weight of the chain creates a catenary curve, keeping the shank parallel to the seabed.1:34 To simulate gale-force gusts, the crew allows the boat to drift forward before engaging full reverse, creating momentum that jerks the chain taut.2:38 The anchor resets itself by 12 inches without dragging.3:35 Increasing the scope to 3.7:1 keeps the shank on the bottom and further reduces anchor movement.4:01 This technique requires an all-chain rode to be effective.4:18 A 3:1 scope is sufficient for deep-water anchoring, but increasing to 4:1 provides better security during squalls.4:27

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